I Will Fight For You [TOTICF Book 2] (Killua X OC)

Awakening x and x Delirium

Ringing. Ringing in her ears, her eyes, her limbs. A nearby lamp casting uncomfortable light onto Usagi's faded form only amplified the thrum of pain in her skull, but the ringing... it couldn't just be her, right?

Sweat dripped down her forehead, a delicate sheen adorning her features as her chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths. Raggedy clothes clung to her minuscule frame as wires and cords and tubes wove up and down her body, pins and needles poking her skin at odd angles.

When she groaned, her throat clinched as a wave of pain shot down her trachea and through her jaw. Usagi coughed, choking on unswallowed saliva as her throat screamed in agony.

Leorio immediately turned towards her, expression shifting as he abandoned the clipboard and notes in his hands and rushed to her side.

"Hey, Usagi," he muttered, clearing his throat before tentatively placing his hand on her shoulder, squeezing tightly while pushing her bangs off of her face. "It's okay, you're safe now. We've got you."

She coughed weakly, her head swaying against the pillow like a bowling ball tied to a string. Her eyes rolled in her skull as she forced them to open, the light blinding her. She opened her mouth to speak, licked her lips dryly, and took a deep breath.

"Wh—" and then she was coughing again, a fit that wracked her to the core and left her trembling. Her voice, what little she could muster, was scratchy and distant, and it burned in her throat as she spoke. Leorio patted her hair.

"Don't push yourself, Usagi." After a moment of Usagi catching her breath enough to quiet down, he continued. "You've been passed out for about two days now, and you've been running a high fever."

Usagi reached over her protruding ribs and ran her fingers over the IV jutting out of her forearm. "It itches," she whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear.

He took a breath. "I'm sorry, but I can't take it out."

Returning to her previous position, Usagi looked around the room with dull eyes, her eyelids dropping and threatening to draw her back into a deep sleep. Still, she forced them open.

She looked directly at Leorio. "Whe–er's  Sachik—" was all she could forced out from fried vocal cords before returning into a coughing fit.

Leorio glanced at the door. "She's not here, Usagi. You're back in Hokkaisho, remember? Killua and Chi got you. You're safe," he said, his thumb rubbing along her shoulder.

Usagi's lips pursed as the corners tugged downwards, the corners of her eyes crinkling as her expression shifted. "No."

"What?"

"She's here."

And then the door slammed open, and every muscle in Usagi's body became rigid, pulling taught against her fragile bones as her breath bated in her chest. A tall woman ran to the makeshift hospital bed against the opposite wall.

"Usagi!" Chi shouted, standing beside her sister's weak form. When Usagi looked up, her eyes were wide with terror—she could see, but she didn't see Chi. Her fingers twitched against the sheets.

Leorio rushed beside Chi, whispering hurried words into her ear while gesturing weakly. The two of them looked back down at Usagi, who's fever-riddled brain was still still trying to comprehend who was standing before her.

As her golden eyes absorbed Chi's features, her mind painted a different picture on top of them. It's not that she looked incredibly similar to Sachiko—genetics made them look related, but only under a scrutinous eye—and yet... the image was burned over her vision like old film-reel editing. She knew it was fake, it had to be fake, but it was real enough—